Written Answers Thursday 30 November 2006

Scottish Executive

Antisocial Behaviour

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dispersal orders it estimates will be used annually by each local authority.

Johann Lamont: Police forces, in consultation with relevant local authorities, have discretion to use the power in appropriate circumstances i.e. where antisocial behaviour is significant, persistent and serious. We are not in a position to estimate how frequently such circumstances will arise.

  Latest figures, to end September 2006, indicate that dispersal orders have been used 12 times, by six police forces across Scotland, as follows.

  

 Police Force
 Dispersal Orders Issued


 Grampian 
 2


 Lothian and Borders
 3


 Central Scotland 
 1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 4


 Northern
 1


 Strathclyde
 1

Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the presence of parasites of the Argulus species will be included as a matter to be notified to its Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD), as a notifiable disease or parasite, under the terms of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill; what steps are being taken to ascertain how this parasite is spreading, and whether the Executive will publish all the information held by SEERAD and other public agencies in relation to Argulus.

Rhona Brankin: The bill contains provision (section 4) for ministers to modify the definition of "parasite" and thereby include Argulus, if there was a need to do so.

  We do not believe there is such a case at present, but together with the Fisheries Research Services (FRS) we will consider further surveillance to update our understanding of the distribution of the parasite, information about which can be found on the FRS website www.marlab.ac.uk.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is measuring potential destitution among asylum seeker children.

Robert Brown: The Executive does not measure destitution among asylum seekers.

  We do, however, continue to work closely with local partners, for example the Scottish Refugee Council to help ensure that all asylum seekers and their children get the help and support they need. The first Joint Inspection of services for asylum seekers in Glasgow is underway and will help ensure the quality of those services.

  The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum was reconvened this year to examine issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers. The forum’s new action plan is due to be published in the next few months and we will be implementing this as part of the National Race Equality Strategy.

Council Tax

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending the council tax reduction to which student nurses are entitled for six months after qualifying.

George Lyon: We have no current plans to do so, but are examining a range of local taxation issues in light of the final report of the Local Government Finance Review Committee.

Crofting Reform etc. Bill

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small landholders outside the traditional crofting counties it estimates will qualify for crofting status under section 11 of the Crofting Reform etc. Bill, also broken down into small landholders (a) in Arran, (b) in Speyside, (c) in Aberdeenshire, (d) in Dumfries and Galloway, (e) in Gigha and (f) anywhere else applicable.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive does not hold information on which to base any estimate.

Dentistry

John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to assist the dental practice in Prestonpans to meet the growing demand for NHS dental checks and treatment of patients from East Lothian and elsewhere whose dentists refuse to work for the NHS.

Lewis Macdonald: Responsibility for the provision of NHS dental services in Prestonpans rests with NHS Lothian. They are currently in discussion with the dental practice regarding possible expansion plans.

Disability Discrimination Act 2005

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding will be made available to local authorities to make local authority-owned or rented buildings comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Mr Tom McCabe: It is for employers and service providers, including local authorities, to decide what they need to do to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and to allocate the necessary resources.

  Local authorities have substantial resources at their disposal, including revenue funding provided by the Executive which includes support for capital expenditure. Councils can also supplement their capital programmes through self-financed (Prudential) borrowing. It is for each local authority to allocate its funding according to local needs and priorities, subject to fulfilling its statutory obligations.

Drug Misuse

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to gather data on the number of clients undergoing treatment for drug misuse, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) NHS board.

Johann Lamont: The Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) currently collects information, by NHS board and local authority area, on the number of ‘new’ clients accessing services. However, the database is being redeveloped to allow for the collection of additional information. The revised SDMD is being phased in from April 2006, and once full compliance is achieved from all drug treatment services in Scotland, the database will be able to provide the information requested.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 1,426 young people referred to the Children’s Reporter in 2005-06 on grounds of misuse of alcohol or drugs are currently on rehabilitation programmes.

Robert Brown: This information is not held centrally.

Education

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that all pupils have equality of access to a full and varied curriculum.

Hugh Henry: The on-going review of the Scottish curriculum,  A Curriculum for Excellence,  is explicitly working towards an improved curriculum for all children and young people from three to 18 years of age.

Education

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what the overall cost will be of appointing the senior advisers to support its "Determined to Succeed" and "Schools of Ambition" strategies.

Nicol Stephen: The cost of advertising these posts in The Times Educational Supplement Scotland , The Herald  and Sunday Herald, The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday , The Press and Journal , S1 Jobs and Jobs.Scotsman.com is £13,114.36, excluding VAT.

  Suitable candidates will be invited to an assessment centre to be held in central Scotland. This is standard procedure for external recruitment within the Executive. The estimated cost of this part of the process is £6,200.

Education (Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Education (Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Robert Brown: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. The initial set up costs and annual costs for 2005-06 incurred directly by the Scottish Executive are estimated respectively at £400,000 and £684,000 but fully comparable actual costs are not readily available. An examination of the actual costs in relation to the provisions in this act will form part of the Finance Committee’s examination into the scrutiny of the costs of legislation, the results of which will be published.

Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Educational Records) (Scotland) Act 2002

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Educational Records) (Scotland) Act 2002 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Robert Brown: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. Comparable actual costs are not readily available. The only substantive costs arising from the provisions in the act are incurred by local authorities and the Executive does not hold details of local authority expenditure as an immediate consequence of the act.

Education (School Meals) (Scotland) Act 2003

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Education (School Meals) (Scotland) Act 2003 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Robert Brown: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. Comparable actual costs are not readily available. The introduction of the Education (School Meals) (Scotland) Act 2003 did not result in any set up costs. The act was introduced to negate a potential loophole forming as a result of the introduction of the tax credit system. Any costs are therefore annual.

  However, the migration of income support claimants to the child tax credit system, who fall within the criteria of the act, has not yet been completed and information on the number of children who gained eligibility under the act is not available. As such, the actual annual costs of the introduction of the act cannot be calculated.

Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been charged with an offence under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 and what percentage of those have been convicted, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: Statistics on convictions are published annually by the Scottish Executive Justice Department each spring. The latest set of annual statistics published on 27 April 2006 are for 2004-05, which predates the enactment of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 on 9 May 2005.

  Information available from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database indicates that, at 14 September 2006, a total of 392 charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 had been prosecuted. A breakdown of this total by police force area is given in the following table.

  Offences Prosecuted Under Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 20051,2,3

  

 Police Force Area
 Charges Prosecuted
 % Convicted
 % Still Subject to Active Court Proceedings


 Central
 8
 75
 25


 Dumfries and Galloway
 14
 86
 14


 Fife
 31
 61
 29


 Grampian
 22
 64
 9


 Lothian and Borders
 102
 52
 30


 Northern
 10
 40
 20


 Strathclyde
 189
 40
 48


 Tayside
 16
 56
 25


 Scotland
 392
 49
 36



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The table reflects the position at 14 September 2006.

Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) shortest and (b) longest prison sentence has been given to anyone convicted under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005.

Cathy Jamieson: Statistics on convictions are published annually by the Scottish Executive Justice Department each spring. The latest set of annual statistics published on 27 April 2006 are for 2004-05, which predates the enactment of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 on 9 May 2005. The preliminary data currently available for 2005-06 show that custodial sentences imposed in convictions where the main offence involved was an offence under the 2005 act ranged from two months to eight months.

Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines have been issued to people found guilty of offences under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, broken down by the level of fine.

Cathy Jamieson: Statistics on convictions are published annually by the Scottish Executive Justice Department each spring. The latest set of annual statistics published on 27 April 2006 are for the financial year 2004-05, which predates the enactment of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 on 9 May 2005. Of the 51 convictions recorded in the preliminary, and incomplete, data available for 2005-06, 14 have resulted in a fine, with nine persons fined £300 or less and five persons fined over £300.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs there have been in each standard industrial sector in Aberdeenshire in each of the last three years, also shown as a percentage of all jobs in Aberdeenshire.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the number of employee jobs in Aberdeenshire by sector for the last three years for which data are available.

  Due to changes in the data between 2002 and 2003 there is a slight discontinuity with the data and therefore comparisons between data from 2003 onwards with data prior to 2003 should be used with caution.

  Table 1 – Employee Jobs by Sector in Aberdeenshire, 2002-04

  

 Industry
 2002
 2003
 2004


 Level
 %
 Level
 %
 Level
 %


 A : Agriculture, hunting and forestry
 3,900
 5.1%
 3,900
 4.8%
 3,900
 4.8%


 B : Fishing
 900
 1.2%
 *
 *
 *
 *


 C : Mining and quarrying
 1,400
 1.8%
 2,200
 2.6%
 2,100
 2.5%


 D : Manufacturing
 11,600
 14.9%
 11,400
 13.9%
 11,000
 13.5%


 E : Electricity, gas and water supply
 400
 0.5%
 *
 *
 *
 *


 F : Construction
 6,600
 8.4%
 4,600
 5.6%
 6,600
 8.0%


 G : Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods
 14,100
 18.1%
 14,200
 17.4%
 13,300
 16.3%


 H : Hotels and restaurants
 5,100
 6.5%
 5,900
 7.2%
 6,900
 8.4%


 I : Transport, storage and communication
 3,200
 4.2%
 3,700
 4.5%
 3,800
 4.7%


 J : Financial intermediation
 900
 1.2%
 900
 1.1%
 900
 1.1%


 K : Real estate, renting and business activities
 7,400
 9.5%
 8,600
 10.5%
 7,700
 9.4%


 L : Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
 2,800
 3.6%
 3,000
 3.6%
 3,100
 3.8%


 M : Education
 7,000
 9.0%
 7,800
 9.6%
 7,200
 8.9%


 N : Health and social work
 8,500
 10.9%
 9,500
 11.6%
 9,600
 11.8%


 O : Other community, social and personal service activities
 4,000
 5.1%
 5,200
 6.3%
 4,400
 5.3%


 Total
 78,000
 100%
 81,700
 100%
 81,500
 100%



  Source: Annual Business Inquiry.

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  3. 2002 figures are based on SIC 1992 codes and 2003-04 figures are based on SIC 2003 codes. This may lead to a discontinuity in levels.

  4. Data for 1997–2002 are based on 1991 census wards. Data for 2003-04 are based on 2003 CAS wards.

  *Cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality constraints.

Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

George Lyon: The Financial Memoranda to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. By way of comparable information on actual initial set up and annual costs after the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000 came into force, the annual cost for the year 2005-06 in the same categories as the Financial Memoranda is as follows.

  

 Actual


 Executive
 Local Authorities
 Other


 Set Up
 Annual
 Set Up
 Annual
 Set Up
 Annual


£70,000
£611,000
 Minimal
 Minimal
 Minimal
 Minimal

Health

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any testing of daily herds in Scotland to establish if there is a link between dairy produce and Crohn’s disease.

Ross Finnie: The cause of Crohn’s disease is not known and there is no proven link between dairy produce and Crohn’s disease.

  It has been suggested that Crohn’s disease might be caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP), a bacterium that causes Johne’s disease in cattle and that has been found in milk. Published evidence in this field has been considered at both UK and EU levels in recent years and the evidence remains inconclusive for or against a link between MAP and Crohn’s disease.

  From an animal health and welfare perspective Johne’s disease is important. The Scottish Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Advisory Group has identified Johne’s disease in dairy cattle as an industry priority. Given the implications of this disease for animal health and welfare a Johne’s disease prevalence study is currently being undertaken on behalf of the Executive and other UK Rural Affairs Departments. This survey is a first step towards reducing the prevalence of Johne’s disease in dairy cattle.

Housing

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adults and (b) adults with children have been temporarily housed in bed and breakfast accommodation since 1997, broken down by (i) quarter and (ii) local authority area, and how many it expects to be housed in this way on 31 December 2006.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive collects snapshot data on the number of households in temporary accommodation at the end of each quarter, including information on households in bed and breakfast. Information distinguishing households with dependent children, including number of children, has been collected since March 2001. Data on households in bed and breakfast are available on-line in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference site: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref .

  Information on numbers in temporary accommodation on 31 December 2006 will be supplied to the Executive by councils as part of the quarterly homelessness summary return (HL2 return) for quarter 4 2006.

  A table providing the available information for each local authority for each quarter from 31 March 1997 to 31 December 2001 will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41032).

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the capital receipts from the sale of council houses since 1979 (a) have been used to pay off local authority capital housing debt, (b) have been used to carry out works on remaining housing stock and (c) are still retained in some form by local authorities, broken down by local authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: The available information is shown in the following table. Data on housing revenue account receipts used to redeem debt is only available from 1987-88 and data on capital expenditure financed from receipts only available from 1996-97, we do not collect specific information on receipts retained by local authorities.

  For completeness the table also shows total capital receipts and total capital spending on new building and improvement on housing revenue accounts. Capital spending can be funded by receipts, by new borrowing and from current revenue.

  Due to local government re-organisation in 1996, it is not possible to provide local authority level figures on a consistent basis over the period requested.

  

 
 Total Value of Sales of Council Dwellings4 (£m)
 Total HRA Capital Receipts (£m)
 Debt Redeemed from HRA Capital Receipts (£m)
 Capital Expenditure Financed from Receipts (£m)
 Total HRA Capital Spending on New Building, Maintenance and Improvements (£m)


 1979-80
 5.8
 11.4
 
 
 226.6


 1980-81
 23.5
 27.7
 
 
 235.0


 1981-82
 61.2
 64.3
 
 
 229.8


 1982-83
 101.3
 106.8
 
 
 249.3


 1983-84
 121.2
 148.0
 
 
 289.9


 1984-85
 115.6
 132.2
 
 
 245.8


 1985-86
 104.4
 122.5
 
 
 287.3


 1986-87
 116.3
 128.1
 
 
 334.0


 1987-88
 166.3
 185.1
 17.8
 
 438.4


 1988-89
 254.0
 274.0
 26.6
 
 459.6


 1989-90
 301.0
 326.7
 38.0
 
 469.2


 1990-91
 259.4
 287.8
 42.0
 
 478.4


 1991-92
 241.6
 268.2
 32.8
 
 458.2


 1992-93
 261.1
 286.6
 32.0
 
 429.2


 1993-94
 240.4
 274.2
 34.1
 
 434.1


 1994-95
 246.7
 282.8
 30.7
 
 456.1


 1995-96
 189.1
 243.3
 21.1
 
 427.5


 1996-97
 197.8
 201.6
 44.9
 147.6
 328.6


 1997-98
 229.0
 233.5
 67.2
 157.8
 251.2


 1998-99
 193.7
 216.2
 135.2
 66.8
 243.5


 1999-2000
 214.4
 232.4
 Not available
 Not available
 225.8


 2000-01
 215.3
 224.6
 161.3
 62.1
 219.9


 2001-02
 221.3
 235.1
 160.2
 75.3
 267.6


 2002-03
 305.1
 309.0
 215.5
 95.8
 268.7


 2003-04
 265.5
 272.1
 188.5
 85.4
 202.3


 2004-05
 261.7
 274.8
 71.4
 197.6
 190.5


 2005-06
 253.7
 248.83
 41.13
 205.73
 320.3



  Sources: Sales 3 returns from local authorities; local authorities’ HSG1A and HRA near actual returns; capital returns.

  Notes:

  1. Monetary values shown are nominal and not adjusted for inflation.

  2. Figures for Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and the Scottish Borders are excluded from April 2003 following the transfer of stock to housing association ownership.

  3. 2005-06 figures are budget estimates.

  4. Column shows total value of sales to individuals under right to buy, rent to mortgage and voluntary sales and exclude income from block transfers.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29242 by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 November 2006, what valuation principles it has agreed with Glasgow Housing Association for the second stage transfer of its housing stock.

Malcolm Chisholm: A copy of the information requested has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41067). The valuation principles were agreed with Glasgow Housing Association as part of the Joint Project Team Interim Report in 2005. Some of these principles may need to be reviewed in future in light of experience.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14222 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 February 2005, how many prosecutions there have been for the supply of alcohol to underage customers in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) police board area, (b) local authority area and (c) parliamentary constituency, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the tables. No breakdown of these figures into parliamentary constituency is available from the data held centrally. The court proceedings statistics for 2004-05 are planned for publication in April 2006.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Selling Alcohol to Persons Under 181, by Police Force Area, 1999-2003

  

 Police Force Area
 Number
 Percentage Change on Previous Year


 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 20032
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 20032


 Central 
 3
 6
 3
 5
 6
 -50
 100
 -50
 67
 20


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 -
 -
 -
 2
 -57
 -100
 0
 0
 -


 Fife 
 1
 8
 2
 -
 5
 -80
 700
 -75
 -100
 -


 Grampian 
 7
 7
 3
 5
 5
 -42
 0
 -57
 67
 0


 Lothian and Borders 
 4
 7
 10
 11
 4
 -79
 75
 43
 10
 -64


 Northern 
 1
 4
 2
 3
 1
 -75
 300
 -50
 50
 -67


 Strathclyde 
 22
 27
 25
 16
 24
 -63
 23
 -7
 -36
 50


 Tayside 
 17
 3
 3
 4
 3
 55
 -82
 0
 33
 -25


 Scotland
 58
 62
 48
 44
 50
 -53
 7
 -23
 -8
 14



  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Selling Alcohol to Persons Under 181, by Approximate Local Authority Area3 1999-2003

  

 Local Authority Area
 Number
 Percentage Change on Previous Year


 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 20032
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 20032


 Aberdeen City 
 2
 3
 -
 3
 4
 n/a
 50
 -100
 n/a
 33


 Aberdeenshire 
 4
 4
 1
 2
 -
 -100
 -
 -75
 100
 -100


 Angus 
 2
 -
 1
 -
 2
 n/a
 -100
 n/a
 -100
 n/a


 Argyll and Bute 
 1
 1
 -
 1
 -
 -67
 -
 -100
 n/a
 -100


 Clackmannanshire 
 -
 4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 n/a
 -100
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 -
 -
 -
 2
 -57
 -100
 -
 -
 n/a


 Dundee City 
 2
 2
 2
 3
 1
 -33
 -
 -
 50
 -67


 East Ayrshire 
 2
 3
 3
 2
 9
 -33
 50
 -
 -33
 350


 East Dunbartonshire
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -100
 -
 n/a
 -100
 -


 East Lothian 
 -
 1
 3
 -
 -
 -
 n/a
 200
 -100
 -


 East Renfrewshire 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -100
 -
 n/a
 -100
 -


 Edinburgh, City of 
 1
 2
 3
 6
 4
 -92
 100
 50
 100
 -33


 Eilean Siar 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -100
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Falkirk 
 2
 2
 3
 4
 4
 -100
 -
 50
 33
 -


 Fife 
 1
 8
 2
 -
 5
 -80
 700
 -75
 -100
 n/a


 Glasgow City 
 3
 14
 8
 4
 4
 -81
 367
 -43
 -100
 -


 Highland 
 1
 3
 2
 2
 -
 -67
 200
 -33
 -
 -100


 Inverclyde 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -100
 -
 n/a
 -100
 -


 Midlothian 
 -
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -100
 n/a
 -
 -100
 -


 Moray 
 1
 -
 2
 -
 1
 -75
 -100
 n/a
 -100
 n/a


 North Ayrshire 
 5
 -
 -
 1
 3
 -44
 -100
 -
 n/a
 200


 North Lanarkshire 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -100
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Orkney Islands 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 n/a


 Perth and Kinross 
 13
 1
 -
 1
 -
 63
 -92
 -100
 n/a
 -100


 Renfrewshire 
 -
 -
 2
 -
 6
 -100
 -
 n/a
 -100
 n/a


 Scottish Borders 
 3
 2
 3
 5
 -
 n/a
 -33
 50
 67
 -100


 Shetland Islands 
 -
 1
 -
 1
 -
 -
 n/a
 -100
 n/a
 -100


 South Ayrshire 
 1
 2
 5
 4
 -
 -67
 100
 150
 -20
 -100


 South Lanarkshire 
 8
 5
 4
 4
 -
 -
 -38
 -20
 -
 -100


 Stirling 
 1
 -
 -
 1
 2
 -100
 -100
 n/a
 n/a
 100


 West Dunbartonshire
 2
 2
 -
 -
 2
 -33
 -
 -100
 -
 n/a


 West Lothian 
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 n/a
 -100
 -
 -


 Scotland
 58
 62
 48
 44
 50
 -53
 7
 -23
 -8
 14



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes estimated data.

  3. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Some local authority areas, including East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire, do not contain a sheriff court.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people arrested for illegal immigration have been granted bail in a Scottish court in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: Illegal immigrants are not brought before a court but are dealt with by the Nationality and Immigration Directorate which is part of the Home Office. The statistics collected centrally on bail orders do not include information on whether the accused was an illegal immigrant.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many illegal immigrants granted bail in a Scottish court have broken their bail conditions in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not available from the statistics collected centrally on convictions for breach of bail as these do not include information on whether the offender was an illegal immigrant.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign drivers have been prosecuted for road traffic offences in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not available from the statistics collected centrally on persons proceeded against in court as these do not include information on the nationality of the accused.

Livestock

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why those individuals who it considered to be in breach of the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme in 2003 were not notified of this position until January 2005.

Ross Finnie: I assume that the question relates to those Suckler Cow Premium Scheme (SCPS) 2003 claimants who breached the 5% minimum heifer rule; we wrote to them on 19 January 2005. This rule applied in 2003 only. We identified those who were in breach by analysing the composition of every SCPS producer’s claim at the end of their six month retention period. We did this as a one-off exercise after all the 2003 claimed animals had completed their retention; the last retention period ended on 30 June 2004. Because we used calving information held on the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) to check if animals which had completed their retention period were cows or heifers, we had to allow time for producers to inform the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) of animals calving in the final days of retention, and for BCMS to update CTS. We also decided to delay our 5% minimum heifer checks until we were sure that the majority of claims were unlikely to change following producers’ replies to our cross check letters which had identified breaches in other scheme rules.

Livestock

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme 2003, on what guidance it bases its policy for managing breaches of the 5% heifer rule.

Ross Finnie: We implemented this particular rule to comply with the requirements of the EC legislation governing the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme. We were guided in how we handled breaches by our interpretation of the regulations, the advice issued to member states by the European Commission on the implementation of this rule, discussion between the four paying agencies administering the scheme in the UK, and legal advice received by these agencies.

Livestock

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme 2003, on what date it first received guidance from the European Commission or other EU agency on how to manage breaches of the 5% heifer rule.

Ross Finnie: An EC information note was issued to all member states in 2002.

Livestock

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that literature issued by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department on the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme 2003 contained all information relevant to scheme participants to which the department had access at that time.

Ross Finnie: I am satisfied that the 2003 scheme literature described the scheme rules clearly and that we provided potential claimants with sufficient guidance to participate in the scheme and meet its various conditions of eligibility. The notes for guidance cannot cover every situation and they do not provide a definitive statement of the law. The notes advised producers to contact SEERAD if there was anything they did not understand or, if they needed specific advice, to contact a professional advisor.

Local Government Finance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Burt review into local government finance cost.

George Lyon: Because there are still a number of outstanding invoices, it is not possible to give a final figure for the committee’s costs during the period of its inquiry, from its establishment in June 2004 to the publication of its report on 9 November 2006. The committee itself has estimated its total costs, excluding secretariat costs, at £270,000. We will be in a position to provide a total figure once all outstanding invoices are settled.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what cognisance it has taken of the ruling of the Appeal Court in England, in a judicial review initiated by Pam Smith, that NHS patients had not been properly consulted by North East Derbyshire Primary Care Trust over the tendering and award of a contract for GP services in Langwith, Derbyshire; whether it has discussed this decision with NHS boards, and what advice it has issued on the matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards are statutorily responsible for providing or securing primary medical services for their local populations. How that is achieved is a matter for each NHS board taking into account the needs of the local population and local circumstances.

  NHS boards should act in accordance with the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004, the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and the NHS Reform (Scotland) Act 2004.

  The NHS Reform (Scotland) Act placed a duty on NHS boards to involve the public in designing NHS services. Guidance is already available to NHS boards to ensure involvement of the public on the provision and development of health and community care services. Public involvement should be appropriate and proportionate to local circumstances, and where material changes to existing services are proposed, we expect boards to follow established guidance on public engagement and consultation

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will intervene in the decision of NHS Lanarkshire to put primary medical services in Harthill out to tender without consultation, in light of the ruling of the Appeal Court in England in a judicial review of North East Derbyshire Primary Care Trust’s decisions in relation to the tendering and award of a contract for GP services in Langwith, Derbyshire.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards are statutorily responsible for providing or securing primary medical services for their local populations. How that is achieved is a matter for each NHS board taking into account the needs of the local population and local circumstances in accordance with the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004, the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and the NHS Reform (Scotland) Act 2004.

  I understand that NHS Lanarkshire has already written to all households covered by the Harthill practice informing them of the position and invited them to take part in a public meeting which took place on Wednesday, 29 November. The public meeting gave patients the opportunity to comment on find out more about the selection process and to identify a patient representative from Harthill to sit on the selection panel. The board has also set up a free post service and website address: www.nhslanarkshire.co.uk/consutlations for patients to submit their views.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy is to allow NHS boards to put clinical services out to tender without public consultation.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards are expected to follow established arrangements in securing the provision of clinical services with the key criteria being to deliver safe, high quality clinical care which is responsive to patients' needs and offers value for money. Where material changes to existing services are proposed, we expect boards to follow guidance relating to public engagement and consultation.

  By requesting expressions of interest in providing these services NHS Lanarkshire is acting in "the normal way". Since the NHS was set up in 1948, general practitioners have provided services under contracts with health boards. Unlike hospital doctors the majority of general practitioners are not employees of health boards, but independent self-employed practitioners that run GP practices as businesses for profit.

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Rhona Brankin: The Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament require all bills on introduction to be accompanied by a Financial Memorandum which sets out the best estimates of the administrative, compliance and other costs to which the provisions of the bill would give rise, best estimates of the timescales over which such costs would be expected to arise, and an indication of the margins of uncertainty in such estimates. The Financial Memorandum must distinguish separately such costs as would fall upon (a) the Scottish Administration, (b) local authorities and (c) other bodies, individuals and businesses. These memoranda are freely available on the Scottish Parliament’s website.

  By way of comparable information the actual initial set up costs and annual costs for the year 2005-06 in the same categories as the Financial Memoranda are as follows:

  

 Actual


 Executive
 Local Authorities
 Other


 Set Up
 Annual
 Set Up
 Annual
 Set Up
 Annual


£190,000
£1,300
 *
 *
£392,000
£583,000



  Note: *The new general duties placed on local authorities in relation to biodiversity and Sites of Special Scientific Interest do not prescribe detailed implementation measures. It is for individual public bodies to determine, in context, how best to fulfil the obligations arising under the act. Information on costs is not collated centrally.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses the performance of members appointed by Scottish ministers to the boards of non-departmental public bodies and what powers it has to remove board members who it considers consistently underperform.

Mr Tom McCabe: Under the terms and conditions of their appointment, board members and chairs of regulated non-departmental public bodies are subject to annual performance appraisal. Board members are normally assessed by their board chair who in turn is normally assessed by a senior civil servant. Performance is assessed against agreed objectives.

  In addition, all non-departmental public bodies operate within the parameters of the Executive’s Performance Management framework and are monitored by dedicated sponsor teams within Scottish Executive Departments.

  Legislation establishing individual non-departmental public bodies provides authority for ministers to appoint board members and chairs, and subject to the Nolan principles, should they under-perform, for ministers to remove board members and chairs from their posts. Similar provisions are also specified in the terms and conditions attached to individual appointments.

Population

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the financial provision that will be needed in future years to support a growth in the elderly population and increases in the numbers of children identified as being in need of support.

Mr Tom McCabe: We are considering the future financial provision required, taking into account demographic trends, as we prepare for the next spending review. For example, Malcolm Chisholm is leading the development of a Strategy for Scotland with an Ageing Population.

  Decisions on funding for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 will be decided in the 2007 spending review.

Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) initial set up and (b) annual costs to (i) the Executive, (ii) local authorities, (iii) other public sector organisations or bodies and (iv) other individuals, organisations and bodies of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 were projected to be in the Financial Memorandum to the bill and what the actual (1) initial set up costs were and (2) annual costs have been in each year since the act came into force, in each category.

Robert Brown: The Financial Memorandum to the bill is available on the Parliament’s website. Fully comparable actual costs are not readily available. The initial set up costs and annual costs for 2005-06 incurred directly by the Scottish Executive were £929,000 and £95,000 respectively. Information on actual costs incurred by local authorities or others is not held centrally, but are not likely to be significant.

Rail Network

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will have completed its assessment of the proposal to construct a dynamic loop on the railway line between Kilmarnock and Glasgow to increase the frequency of rail services.

Tavish Scott: We expect the feasibility work to be completed by the end of the year and will make a decision following that.

Rape

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals charged with rape have been granted bail in each year since 1999, broken down by police authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table.

  Bail Orders Granted where Main Offence was Rape1, 1999-2000 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force Area
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Central
 2
 1
 5
 5
 24
 16
 24


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 6
 2
 6
 1
 6
 4


 Fife
 16
 16
 16
 25
 22
 14
 25


 Grampian
 7
 7
 15
 8
 13
 15
 19


 Lothian and Borders
 22
 20
 29
 42
 40
 42
 41


 Northern
 2
 7
 4
 7
 16
 11
 8


 Strathclyde
 69
 73
 78
 86
 102
 129
 118


 Tayside
 12
 14
 16
 35
 25
 27
 31


 Scotland
 133
 144
 165
 214
 243
 260
 270



  Note: 1. Excludes modifications to existing bail orders.

Recycling

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities will meet its recycling targets and what examples of good practice could be disseminated to other local authorities.

Ross Finnie: We have Scotland wide targets to recycle or compost 25% of municipal waste by 2006 and 30% by 2008. In support of these national targets, each local authority has made a separate commitment to recycle or compost a certain level of waste linked to their Strategic Waste Fund phase 1 award. Thirteen authorities have met or exceeded their commitments to date.

  Sharing examples of best practice has many benefits and we would certainly encourage local authorities that perform less well than others to learn from experience elsewhere. Potential examples of good practice are many and varied and include such things as: methods of kerbside collection; use of recycling centres and points, and use of underpinning education and awareness campaigns.

Scottish Assessors

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what software the Scottish Assessors have purchased in the last year and what software is under consideration for purchase.

Mr Tom McCabe: I am advised that the Scottish Assessors have purchased software for routine maintenance purposes of the council tax lists and non domestic valuation rolls in the past year. The detail of current and future purchases is a matter for the assessors.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29259 by Mr Tom McCabe on 7 November 2006, whether it will provide a breakdown of the payments made under the category "other" to Holyrood Communications in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information sought is as follows:

  

 
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Subscriptions
 1,695
 2,550


 Event Sponsorship
 14,100
 10,000


 Publications
 39
 7,518


 Event Management Services
 45,496
 74,653


 Other
 2,782
 3,934


 Total
 64,112
 98,655

Sexual Offences

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) recorded cases, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions under (i) section 3 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 and (ii) section 91 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 there have been in each year since they came into force, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the tables below. For part (a) of the question, figures for crimes recorded by the police under the legislation stated are not available separately. Total figures for the criminal offence of "failing to notify the police or providing of false information" are therefore presented.

  The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  Crimes Recorded by the Police: Failure to Notify the Police or Provision of False Information1, 1997-98 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force Area
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Central
 1
 1
 1
 5
 1
 0
 7
 14
 14


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 4
 5
 0


 Fife
 0
 4
 7
 6
 11
 3
 7
 22
 11


 Grampian
 2
 9
 6
 8
 5
 5
 2
 17
 45


 Lothian and Borders
 0
 0
 2
 9
 15
 13
 8
 11
 13


 Northern
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 8
 7
 7


 Strathclyde
 6
 22
 22
 25
 29
 36
 32
 30
 75


 Tayside
 2
 10
 2
 8
 4
 0
 4
 0
 0


 Scotland
 11
 46
 40
 61
 66
 58
 72
 106
 165



  Note: 1. Recorded crime data for this category cannot be further disaggregated by specific statutory offences.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for an Offence Under Section 3 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 and Section 91 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 1, 1997-98 to 2004-05

  

 Police Force Area
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 1997 Act
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Central
 1
 1
 -
 1
 1
 -
 1
 4


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 2
 2
 -


 Fife
 -
 -
 1
 -
 3
 3
 2
 6


 Grampian
 -
 5
 -
 3
 3
 2
 2
 2


 Lothian and Borders
 -
 1
 3
 13
 11
 8
 6
 3


 Northern
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1
 1


 Strathclyde
 -
 5
 9
 13
 9
 8
 18
 12


 Tayside
 -
 3
 1
 5
 5
 2
 1
 2


 Scotland
 1
 15
 14
 36
 32
 26
 33
 30


 2003 Act
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Central
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 4


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Fife
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 Grampian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 5


 Lothian and Borders
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Northern
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Strathclyde
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3


 Tayside
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Scotland
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 19



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

  Persons with a charge proved in Scottish courts for an offence under section 3 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 and section 91 of the Sexual Offences Act 20031, 1997-98 to 2004-05

  

 Police Force Area
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 1997 Act
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Central
 1
 -
 -
 1
 1
 -
 1
 4


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 1
 2
 -


 Fife
 -
 -
 1
 -
 3
 3
 2
 6


 Grampian
 -
 5
 -
 3
 3
 2
 2
 2


 Lothian and Borders
 -
 1
 3
 12
 11
 7
 6
 3


 Northern
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1
 1


 Strathclyde
 -
 5
 7
 12
 8
 7
 16
 12


 Tayside
 -
 3
 1
 4
 5
 2
 -
 2


 Scotland
 1
 14
 12
 33
 31
 23
 30
 30


 2003 Act
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Central
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 4


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Fife
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 Grampian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 4


 Lothian and Borders
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 Northern
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Strathclyde
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3


 Tayside
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Scotland
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 17



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish plans for the operation of the system for producing official national statistics in Scotland, following the Executive’s indication to the UK government that it will participate in the new arrangements being put in place at UK level.

Mr Tom McCabe: We will publish our plans for improving statistical services in Scotland through a consultation paper to be published around the same time as the Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) is lodged. The LCM should be lodged in December 2006.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whom it consulted before determining that it will participate in the new arrangements being put in place for the production and independence of statistics at UK level.

Mr Tom McCabe: We consult a wide range of stakeholders annually on the statistics plan which includes some of the statistics reform issues. However, this has not generated any significant public interest.

  However, in reaching our decision, we have considered the responses to the UK-wide HM Treasury consultation – Independence for Statistics.

  And, we will issue our own separate consultation paper, which will give stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the legislation and to shape other proposals to improve the statistical service in Scotland.

Student Finance

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average student loan debt of graduates has been in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the average graduate student loan debt since 1999.

  

 Cohort
 Average Debt


 1999
£2,863


 2000
£3,174


 2001
£3,876


 2002
£4,294


 2003
£4,924


 2004
£5,421


 2005
£5,722


 2006
£5,737



  Source: Student Loans Company (SLC).

Student Finance

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people graduated with a student loan debt of above (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000, (c) £20,000 and (d) £25,000 in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows how many people graduated with a student loan debt of above (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000, (c) £20,000 and (d) £25,000 in each year since 2002. Details of the student loan debt from 1999-2001 are not held centrally.

  The figures giving details of those with a student loan debt above £10,000 are inclusive of all amounts, for example, the figures giving details of those with debts above £15,000 are also included in the over £10,000 figure.

  Borrowers by Repayment Cohort with Student Loan Debt Above Given Threshold, Domiciled in Scotland

  

 Threshold
>= £10,000
>= £15,000
>= £20,000
>= £25,000


 Cohort Year
 Borrowers
 % of Cohort
 Borrowers
 % of Cohort
 Borrowers
 % of Cohort
 Borrowers
 % of Cohort


 2002
 451
 1%
 
 
 
 
 
 


 2003
 3,860
 9%
 150
 0%
 
 
 
 


 2004
 4,640
 11%
 1,680
 4%
 26
 0%
 
 


 2005
 4,766
 11%
 2,214
 5%
 217
 1%
 2
 0%


 2006
 4,755
 12%
 1,741
 4%
 361
 1%
 32
 0%



  Source: Student Loans Company (SLC).

  Notes:

  1. Debt calculated at the point of entering repayment (i.e. 31 March in the cohort year) rather than at point of graduation.

  2. Separate figures for Account Cohort year even though this may mean splitting the debt for one customer who has different accounts in different cohorts (reducing average).

  3. Inclusion of customers who did not graduate at all (reducing averages).

  4. Inclusion of real interest accrued up to the point of entering repayment (making the debt at that point realistic).

  5. Ignoring any repayments made before entering repayment (making the debt at that point look higher than it actually is).

  6. Includes Income Contingent Style Loans and mortgage style loans.

  8. 2005 excludes debt sold to Honours Trust Limited.

  9. Includes finance for higher education figures.

Tourism

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote marine tourism to the benefit of coastal communities and the marine environment.

Hugh Henry: VisitScotland promotes a large variety of marine-related activities including fishing, sailing, diving and surfing through its consumer website and various brochures. The Executive is working with the industry to ensure that all tourism in Scotland is sustainable both for communities and for the environment.

Vaccinations

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the flu vaccines being administered to pregnant women and children as part of the current immunisation programme contain thiomersal (mercury).

Mr Andy Kerr: Pregnant women and children are not in the recommended groups for vaccination unless they are in one of the "at risk groups".

  In this year’s flu programme there is only one vaccine (Fluarix) which contains thiomersal (mercury) and could be offered to pregnant women and children. A full list of the flu vaccines including being supplied in the UK by manufacturers can be found at: http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/cmo/CMO(2006)08.pdf.

Correction

The reply to question S2W-24422 which was originally answered on 3 April 2006, has been corrected: see page 9445 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-06/wa1130.htm.

  The reply to question S2W-29520 which was originally answered on 16 November 2006, has been corrected: see page 9451 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-06/wa1130.htm.